Inside the Beltway: Unbowed and forthright, Trump ‘stronger than ever’

NEWS AND OPINION:

Following his vindication by special counsel Robert Mueller about Russia collusion, some observers have suggested that President Trump make a meek and docile public appearance before Americans to convince the citizenry that he has value to the nation — or words to that effect.

“One writer encouraged the president to give an Oval Office address in which he is ’contrite, humble and authentic in tone’ and use it to ask the public ’for a new opportunity to be president of all Americans,’” writes New York Post columnist Michael Goodwin.

“Allow me to go out on a limb with a prediction: Hell will freeze over first. There might be an Oval Office speech, but it won’t be contrite and humble, nor should it be,” he says.

“Trump is an innocent man who was outrageously framed by political enemies, including some in the Obama White House, the FBI and the Justice Department. Instead of begging forgiveness, he is entitled to feel just as Bill Clinton did after his many brushes with political death, that ’whatever doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.’ Democrats and the media tried to kill Trump, and because they failed, he is in a stronger position than ever,” says Mr. Goodwin.

Lest we forget, Mr. Clinton shook his finger at the cameras and glowered at the press 21 years ago, then flatly denied he had an improper relationship with then-White House intern Monica Lewinsky. The 42nd president choose to take this vigorous stand during a press conference about child care.

Meanwhile, Mr. Goodwin has a prediction.

“Not that he was a shrinking violet, but as a result we can expect to see an even more dominating, freewheeling Trump. His fiery, profanity-laced appearance at a raucous rally in Michigan illustrates that he views Mueller’s report as complete exoneration and that he is free to be even more Trumpian,” the columnist observed.

FOR THE LEXICON

“Collusion Clingers”

Now that’s a handy term — this one was coined by National Review columnist Deroy Murdock.

“Even after Christopher Columbus sailed from Spain to the New World and back, some naysayers surely clung to their shattered superstitions like life preservers after a shipwreck. ’Who cares what Columbus says?’ they likely whined. ’The Earth is flat.’ Columbus must have turned around and come home before he fell over the edge,” writes Mr. Murdock.

“Today’s Democrats resemble those 15th-century bitter-enders. No matter what, many insist that Donald Trump and Russia colluded to win the White House. Even after special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation finally repudiated their destructive myth, they still scream collusion.”

JOE LACKS A CERTAIN CAMPAIGN NECESSITY

Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden, who continues to lead many Democratic presidential hopefuls in the popularity polls — is not exactly having an easygoing time, He is currently denying a charge of untoward behavior toward a campaign worker. Mr. Biden also lacks one critical endorsement.

“He’s had a bad couple of weeks. He doesn’t have President Obama, the man he served for eight years as vice president. He apparently doesn’t have his endorsement,” White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace.

“I think he’s had the worst non-rollout for any would-be 2020 candidate on the Democratic side,” she noted.

AND NOW THE LOBSTER NEWS

There is a “looming bait crisis” for lobstermen, who have been using herring to lure the luxury crustaceans into traps for quite some time. New federal regulations have restricted herring fishing after a NOAA study suggested that the herring population could be dwindling. And yes, some scientists say climate change could be factor, according to an Associated Press report.

“The cut is leaving lobstermen, who have baited traps with herring for generations in Maine, scrambling for new bait sources and concerned about their ability to get lobster to customers who have come to expect easy availability in recent years,” the AP said.

It is a tricky business. During a previous herring shortage, some lobstermen used cowhide as a bait substitute. The lobsters, however, also ate the hair on the hide, with deleterious effects — prompting Maine’s Marine Resources Committee to ban “hairy bait” in 2006.

Seafood News, an industry publication, now warns that a “lobster bait crunch is imminent.”

A TENACIOUS FILM

“Unplanned,” a feature film that takes a stand against abortion, doubled its projected earnings, coming in at fifth place overall with a $6.1 million opening despite previous industry predictions of $2 million to $3 million for its opening weekend.

The independent production did well despite a temporary Twitter ban on the film, a limited release on the nation’s movie screens and very little news coverage. Major cable networks such as HGTV and Lifetime refused to air promotional ads for “Unplanned.” The movie also was given a surprise R rating by MPAA last month.

Pure Flix, the film’s distributor, now will add an additional 600 screens to the count, bring the total number to 1,700 screens after the film earned a rare A-plus rating from CinemaScore.

“We are thrilled, gratified and humbled. We are so pleased that the American people have responded with such an enormous outpouring of support at the box office,” the distributor said in statement. “We hope that those on both sides of the debate will see ’Unplanned’ and begin to have their own dialogue. This film can be that spark to bring more hearts and minds to understanding the value of life.”

The movie was partially financed by MyPillow founder Mike Lindell and was released on 1,000 screens nationwide Friday.

POLL DU JOUR

• 56 percent of U.S. adults believe “Russia created and spread fake news stories to help Donald Trump get elected”; 26 percent of Republicans, 52 percent of independents and 89 percent of Democrats agree.

• 55 percent of U.S. adults believe that “Russia hacked Democratic email to increase the chance that Trump would win the election”; 23 percent of Republicans, 50 percent of independents and 89 percent of Democrats agree.

• 48 percent overall believe that “millions of illegal votes were cast in the 2016 election”; 62 percent of Republicans, 50 percent of independents and 35 percent of Democrats agree.

• 41 percent overall believe that “Russia tampered with vote tallies to get Trump elected as president”; 18 percent of Republicans, 37 percent of independents and 67 percent of Democrats agree.

Source: An Economist/YouGov poll of 1,500 U.S. adults conducted March 24-26.

• Helpful information to jharper@washingtontimes.com